The Guardian children's film review competition in association with Book Tokens

A huge thank you to the hundreds of our younger readers who sent in reviews of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone for our Book Tokens competition. Thanks also to the parents and teachers who encouraged their entries (and who, we trust, helped only with the spellcheck). The selection was very difficult, but finally the Guardian's film critic Peter Bradshaw had the shortlist of 20: "Everything everyone always says about the judges having a hard time because all the entrants are brilliant is true!" he says.

After much deliberation, a winner emerged: Romy Cowhig, aged 9, from Twickenham. Peter explains his choice: "Romy's review was really excellent, and remarkably sophisticated for her age - she was one of the very few entrants to discuss, or even mention the director. She combined it with likeable enthusiasm, humour, and a real sense of good writing." Says Romy: "I couldn't believe I'd won. I leapt into the air and my umbrella, which was hanging from my wrist, flew up and hit me in the face.

"With my book tokens I'm going to buy lots of books by my favourite authors - Jacqueline Wilson's Dustbin Baby because I've wanted to read it for ages, and her Writer's Journal because I've always got lots of ideas for stories but I often forget them or write them on pieces of paper and then lose them."

So Romy gets to read her review in print (below) and wins the first prize of £100-worth of Book Tokens. But six runners-up also receive £25 each in Book Tokens: Nick Kelly, 13; Clemmie Moyes, 10; Sarah Larmour, 11; Clare Walker Gore, 12; Megan Domaille, 7; James Aber, 12. Congratulations to all, and thanks to Peter Bradshaw for his ever-reliable judgment.

About this article

The Guardian children's film review competition in association with Book Tokens

This article appeared on p8 of the G2 section of the Guardian
on Tuesday 4 December 2001.
It was published on
the Guardian website
at 11.19 EST on Wednesday 5 December 2001.
It was last modified at 11.19 EST on Thursday 3 November 2005.
It was first published at 11.19 EST on Thursday 3 November 2005.